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Winter weather impacting blood collections

January 21, 2009

Winter weather impacting blood collections

University Park, Pa. -- American Red Cross blood donations have fallen along with the winter temperatures, resulting in a blood supply far below needed levels. O negative and O positive types are in shortest supply, according to a Red Cross spokesperson. A number of blood drives are scheduled on the University Park campus of Penn State to assist with this need.

“Inventory levels of none of our eight blood types are at the five day supply. Levels of type O positive and O negative are the worst and they are our universal donor types. We need to have a five-day supply at all times to meet hospital transfusion needs,” Wendi Keeler, Donor Resources Field Rep for Penn State said. “Even during cold and bad weather, blood donors are needed for hospital patients receiving blood for surgeries, accidents, cancer treatment, anemia and more.”
The Penn State Community can donate at the upcoming blood drives scheduled below.

“To meet our goal, we need to have over 900 successful blood donors each day. We’re urging those eligible to donate to support these blood drives,” said Keeler
Red Cross information states that every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion and about 29 million blood components are transfused each year. While type O, both positive and negative, is in high demand, all blood types are needed every day.

“Donating blood is not a complicated or time-consuming process,” Keeler added. “From start to finish, it only takes a little over an hour, and you leave with such a great feeling of satisfaction knowing you may have helped save a life.”

All of the blood drives below are part of the Red Cross partnership with the Penn State Dance Marathon. For all Penn State drives through THON weekend, the Red Cross will make a $2 donation to the Four Diamonds Fund. This donation can be credited to a THON registered student organization. In addition all donors receive the Red Cross-THON combined logo T-shirt.

To be eligible to donate, individuals must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health and be at least 17 years of age. Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. There is no upper age limit. Individuals with specific eligibility questions should call the Nursing Collections Department at 1 (800) 542-5663.